An Act for the preventing of inconveniences happening by the long
intermission of Parliaments.

I. Whereas by the laws and statutes of this realm the Parliament ought
to be holden at least once every year for the redress of grievances, but the
appointment of the time and place for the holding thereof hath always belonged,
as it ought, to His Majesty and his royal progenitors: and whereas it is by
experience found that the not holding of Parliaments accordingly hath produced
sundry and great mischiefs and inconveniences to the King's Majesty, the Church
and Commonwealth; for the prevention of the like mischiefs and inconveniences
in time to come:

II. Be it enacted by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, with the consent
of the Lord's spiritual and temporal, and the Commons in this present
Parliament assembled, that the said laws and statutes be from henceforth duly
kept and observed; and your Majesty's loyal and obedient subjects, in this
present Parliament now assembled, do humbly pray that it be enacted: and be it
enacted accordingly, by the authority of this present Parliament, that in case
there be not a Parliament summoned by writ under the Great Seal of England, and
assembled and held before the 10th of September, which shall be in the third
year next after the last day of the last meeting and sitting in this present
Parliament, the beginning of the first year to be accounted from the said last
day of the last meeting and sitting in Parliament; and so from time to time,
and in all times hereafter, if there shall not be a Parliament assembled and
held before the 10th day of September, which shall be in the third year next
after the last day of the last meeting and sitting in Parliament before the
time assembled and held; the beginning of the first year to be accounted from
the said last day of the last meeting and sitting in Parliament; that then in
every such case as aforesaid, the Parliament shall assemble and be held in the
usual place at Westminster, in such manner, and by such means only, as is
hereafter in this present Act declared and enacted, and not otherwise, on the
second Monday, which shall be in the month of November, then next ensuing. And
in case this present Parliament now assembled and held, or any other Parliament
which shall at any time hereafter be assembled and held by writ under the Great
Seal of England, or in case any Parliament shall be assembled and held by
authority of this present Act; and such Parliaments, or any of them, shall be
prorogued, or adjourned, or continued by prorogation or adjournment, until the
10th day of September, which shall be in the third year next after the last day
of the last meeting and sitting in Parliament, to be accounted as aforesaid;
that then in every such case, every such Parliament so prorogued or adjourned,
or so continued by prorogation or adjournment, as aforesaid, shall from the
said 10th day of September be thenceforth clearly and absolutely dissolved, and
the Lord Chancellor of England, the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England,
and every Commissioner and Commissioners, for the keeping of the Great Seal of
England, for the time being, shall within six days after the said 10th day of
September, in every such third year as aforesaid, in due form of law and
without any further warrant or direction from His Majesty, his heirs or
successors, seal, issue forth, and send abroad several and respective writs to
the several and respective peers of this realm, commanding every such peer that
he personally be at the Parliament to be held at Westminster on the second
Monday which shall be in November next following the said 10th day of
September, then and there to treat concerning the high and urgent affairs
concerning His Majesty, the state and defence of the kingdom and Church of
England; and shall also seal and issue forth, and send abroad several and
respective writs to the several and respective sheriffs of the several and
respective counties, cities and boroughs of England and Wales, and to the
Constable of the Castle of Dover, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, or his
lieutenant for the time being, and to the Mayor and Bailiffs of Berwick upon
Tweed, and to all and every other officers and persons to whom writs have used
to be directed, for the electing of the knights, citizens, barons and burgesses
of and for the said Counties, Cities, Cinque Ports and Boroughs of England and
Wales respectively, in the accustomed form, to appear and serve in the
Parliament to be held at Westminster on the said second Monday, which shall be
in November aforesaid; which said peers, after the said writs received, and
which said knights, citizens, barons and burgesses chosen by virtue of the said
writs, shall then and there appear and serve in Parliament accordingly. And the
said Lord Chancellor, Lord Keeper, Commissioner and Commissioners aforesaid,
shall respectively take a solemn oath upon the Holy Evangelists for the due
issuing of writs, according to the tenor of this Act, in haec verba,
—

'You shall swear that you shall truly and faithfully issue forth, and
send abroad all writs of summons to Parliament for both Houses, at such time,
and in such manner, as is expressed and enjoined by an Act of Parliament,
entitled, "An Act for the preventing of inconveniences happening by the long
intermission of Parliaments." '

Which oath is forthwith to be taken by the present Lord Keeper, and to
be administered by the Clerk of the Crown to every Lord Chancellor, Lord
Keeper, Commissioner and Commissioners aforesaid; and that none of the said
officers respectively shall henceforth execute any the said offices before they
have taken the said oath. And if the said Lord Chancellor, Lord Keeper, or any
of the said Commissioners shall fail, or forbear so to issue out the said
writs, according to the true meaning of this Act, then he or they respectively
shall, beside the incurring of the grievous sin of perjury, be disabled, and
become, by virtue of this Act, incapable, ipso facto, to bear his and
their said offices respectively; and be further liable to such punishments as
shall be inflicted upon him or them by the next, or any other ensuing
Parliament. And in case the said Lord Chancellor, Lord Keeper, Commissioner or
Commissioners aforesaid, shall not issue forth the said writs as aforesaid: or
in case that the Parliament do not assemble and be held at the time and place
before appointed, then the Parliament shall assemble and be held in the usual
place at Westminster, in such manner, and by such means only, as is hereafter
in this present Act declared and enacted, and not otherwise, on the third
Monday which shall be in the month of January then next ensuing. And the peers
of this realm shall by virtue of this Act be enabled, and are enjoined to meet
in the Old Palace of Westminster, in the usual place there, on the third Monday
in the said month of November: and they or any twelve or more of them, then and
there assembled, shall on or before the last Monday of November next following
the tenth day of September aforesaid, by virtue of this Act, without other
warrant, issue out writs in the usual form, in the name of the King's Majesty,
his heirs or successors, attested under the hands and seals of twelve or more
of the said peers, to the several and respective sheriffs of the several and
respective counties, cities, and boroughs of England and Wales; and to the
Constable of the Castle of Dover, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, or his
lieutenant for the time being, and to the Mayor and Bailiffs of Berwick upon
Tweed; and to all and every other the said officers and persons to whom writs
have been used to be directed, for the electing of the knights, citizens,
barons and burgesses, of and for the said Counties, Cities, Cinque Ports and
Boroughs, to be and appear at the Parliament at Westminster aforesaid, to be
held on the third Monday in January then next following: all and every which
writs the Clerks of the Petty Bag, and other clerks, to whom the writing of the
writs for summons to the Parliament doth and shall belong, or whom the said
Lords, or twelve or more of them shall appoint, shall at the command of the
said Lords so assembled, or of any twelve or more of them, make and prepare
ready for the signature of the said Lords, or any twelve or more of them, under
pain of the loss of their places and offices, and of such other punishment as
in the next, or any other ensuing Parliament, shall be inflicted on him or
them: and it is enacted that the said writs so issued shall be of the same
power and force to all intents and purposes, as the writs or summons to
Parliament under the Great Seal of England have ever been or ought to be. And
all the messengers of the Chamber or others who shall be appointed by the said
Lords, or any twelve or more, are hereby required faithfully and speedily to
deliver the said writs to every person and persons, sheriffs, officers, and
others, to whom the same shall be directed: which if the said messengers or any
of them shall fail to perform, they shall forfeit their respective places, and
incur such other pains and punishments as by that or any other ensuing
Parliament shall be imposed on them.

III. And it is also further enacted, that all and every the peers of
this realm shall make their appearance, and shall assemble on the said third
Monday in January, in such manner, and to such effect, and with such power, as
if they had received every of them writs of summons to Parliament under the
Great Seal of England, in the usual and accustomed manner. And in case the said
Lords, or twelve or more of them, shall fail to issue forth such writs, or that
the said writs do not come to the said several Counties, Cities, Cinque Ports
and Boroughs, so that an election be not thereupon made; and in case there be
not a Parliament assembled and held before the 23rd day of the said month of
January, and so from time to time, and in all times hereafter, if there shall
not be a Parliament assembled and held before the said 23rd day of January,
then in every such case as aforesaid the Parliament shall assemble, and be held
in the usual place at Westminster, in such manner, and by such means only, as
is hereafter in this present Act declared and enacted, and not otherwise, on
the second Tuesday which shall be in the month of March next after the said
23rd day of January; at which Parliament the peers of this realm shall make
their appearance, and shall assemble at the time and place aforesaid, and shall
each of them be liable unto such pains and censures for his and their not
appearing and serving then and there in Parliament, as if he or they had been
summoned by writ under the Great Seal of England, and had not appeared and
served; and to such further pains and censures, as by the rest of the peers in
Parliament assembled they shall be adjudged unto.

IV. And for the better assembling of the knights, citizens, barons, and
burgesses to the said Parliament, as aforesaid, it is further enacted, that the
several and respective sheriffs of the several and respective Counties, Cities
and Boroughs of England and Wales, and the Chancellors, Masters and Scholars of
both and every of the Universities, and the Mayor and Bailiffs of the borough
of Berwick upon Tweed, shall at the several courts and places to be held and
appointed for their respective Counties, Universities, Cities and Boroughs,
next after the said 23rd day of January, cause such knight and knights, citizen
and citizens, burgess and burgesses of their said Counties, Universities,
Cities and Boroughs respectively, to be chosen by such persons, and in such
manner, as if several and respective writs of summons to Parliament, under the
Great Seal of England, had issued, and been awarded. And in case any of the
several Sheriffs, or the Chancellors, Masters and Scholars of either of the
Universities, or the Mayor and Bailiffs of Berwick respectively, do not before
ten of the clock in the forenoon of the same day wherein the several and
respective courts and places shall be held or appointed for their several and
respective Counties, Universities, Cities and Boroughs as aforesaid, begin and
proceed on according to the meaning of this law, in causing elections to be
made of such knight and knights, citizen and citizens, burgess and burgesses,
of their said Counties, Universities, Cities and Boroughs as aforesaid, then
the freeholders of each County, and the Masters and Scholars of every the
Universities, and the citizens and others having voices in such election
respectively, in each University, City and Borough, that shall be assembled at
the said courts or places to be held, or appointed, as aforesaid, shall
forthwith, without further warrant or direction, proceed to the election of
such knight or knights, citizen or citizens, burgess or burgesses aforesaid, in
such manner as is usual in cases of writs of summons issued and awarded.

V. And it is further enacted that the several and respective sheriffs of
their several and respective counties, and the Constables of the Castle of
Dover, and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, or his lieutenant for the time
being respectively, shall after the said 23rd day of January, and before the
8th day of February then immediately next ensuing, award and send forth their
precepts to the several and respective cities and boroughs within their several
counties, and likewise unto the said Cinque Ports respectively, commanding them
respectively to make choice of such citizen and citizens, barons, burgess and
burgesses, to serve in the said Parliament, at the time and place aforesaid:
which said Cities, Cinque Ports and Boroughs respectively, shall before the
last day of the said month of February make election of such citizen and
citizens, barons, burgess and burgesses, as if writs for summoning of a
Parliament, under the Great Seal of England, has issued and been awarded. And
in case no such precept shall come unto the said Cities, Cinque Ports and
Boroughs respectively, by the time herein limited: or in case any precept shall
come, and no election be made thereupon, before the said last day of February,
that then the several citizens, burgesses, and other persons that ought to
elect and send citizens, barons, and burgesses to the Parliament, shall on the
first Tuesday in March then next ensuing the said last day of February make
choice of such citizen and citizens, barons, burgess and burgesses, as if a
writ of summons under the Great Seal of England had issued and been awarded,
and precepts thereupon issued, to such Cities, Cinque Ports and Boroughs: which
knights, citizens, barons and burgesses so chosen shall appear and serve in
Parliament at the time and place aforesaid, and shall each of them be liable
unto such pains and censures for his and their not appearing and serving then
and there in Parliament, as if he or they had been elected and chosen by virtue
of a writ under the Great Seal of England, and shall be likewise subject unto
such further pains and censures for his and their not appearing and serving
then and there in Parliament, as if he or they had been elected and chosen by
virtue of a writ under the Great Seal of England, and shall be likewise subject
to such further pains and censures as by the rest of the knights, citizens and
burgesses assembled in the Commons House of Parliament, he or they shall be
adjudged unto. And the sheriffs and other officers and persons to whom it
appertaineth shall make returns, and accept and receive the returns of such
elections in like manner as if writs of summons had issued, and been executed,
as hath been used and accustomed: and in default of the sheriffs and other
officers respectively, in not accepting or making return of such elections, it
shall and may be lawful to and for the several freeholders, and other persons
that have elected, to make returns of the knights, citizens, barons and
burgesses by them elected, which shall be as good and effectual to all intents
and purposes as if the sheriff or other officers had received a writ of summons
for a Parliament, and had made such returns: and that such elections, precepts
and returns shall be had and made at such times, by such persons, and in such
manner, as before in this Act is expressed and declared, according to the true
intent and meaning of this law; any writ, proclamation, edict, act, restraint,
inhibition, order or warrant to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding. And
in case any person or persons shall be so hardy to advise, frame, contrive,
serve or put in execution any such writs, proclamation, edict, act, restraint,
inhibition, order or warrant thereupon, then he or they so offending shall
incur and sustain the pains, penalties and forfeitures limited, ordained and
provided in and by the Statute of Provision and Premunire made in the 16th year
of King Richard the Second, and shall from thenceforth be disabled, during his
life, to sue and implead any person in any action real or personal, or to make
any gift, grant, conveyance, or other disposition of any his lands, tenements,
hereditaments, goods or chattels which he hath to his own use, either by act
executed in his lifetime, or by his last will, or otherwise, or to take any
gift, conveyance, or legacy to his own use: and if any Sheriff, Constable of
the Castle of Dover, or Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, shall not perform his
duty enjoined by this Act, then he shall lose and forfeit the sum of
£1000, and every County, City, Cinque Port and Borough that shall not
make election of their knights, citizens, barons and burgesses, respectively,
shall incur the penalties following (that is to say) every County the sum of
£1000, and every City, which is no County, £200, and every Cinque
Port and Borough the sum of £100; all and every of which several
forfeitures, and all other forfeitures in this Act mentioned, shall and may he
recovered in any of the King's Courts of Record at Westminster, without naming
the Christian name and surname of the said Mayor for the time being, by action
of debt, bill, plaint or information, wherein no essoine, protection, wager of
law, aid, prayer, privilege, injunction, or order of restraint, shall be in any
wise prayed, granted or allowed, nor any more than one imparlance: and if any
person after notice given that the action depending is grounded and prosecuted
upon or by virtue of this Statute shall cause or procure any such action to be
stayed or delayed before judgment by colour or means of any order, warrant,
power or authority, save only of the court wherein such action as aforesaid
shall be brought or depending, or after judgment had upon such action, shall
cause or procure the execution of, or upon any such judgment, to be stayed or
delayed by colour or means of any order, warrant, power or authority, save only
by writ of error or attaint, that then the said persons so offending shall
incur and sustain all and every the pains, penalties and forfeitures, limited,
ordained and provided in and by the said Statute of Provision and Premunire,
made in the 16th of King Richard the Second. And if any Lord Mayor of London
shall at any time hereafter commence or prefer any such suit, action or
information, and shall happen to die or be removed out of his office before
recovery and execution had, that yet not such action, suit or information,
sued, commenced or preferred, shall by such displacing or death be abated,
discontinued or ended, but that it shall and may be lawful to and for the Lord
Mayor of the City of London next succeeding in that office and place, to
prosecute, pursue and follow all and every such action, bill, plaint or
information for the causes aforesaid, so hanging and depending in such manner
and form, and to all intents and purposes, as that Lord Mayor might have done,
which first commenced or preferred the same. The fifth part of all and every
the forfeitures in this Act mentioned, shall go and be, to, and for the use and
behoof of the City of London, and the other four parts and residue to be
employed and disposed to, and for such only uses, intents and purposes as by
the knights, citizens and burgesses in Parliament assembled, shall be declared,
directed and appointed. Provided that in case the freeholders of any County and
inhabitants, or other persons having or claiming power to make election of any
knights, citizens, barons or burgesses, shall proceed to making of election of
their knights, citizens, barons and burgesses, which election shall afterwards
fall out to be adjudged or declared void in law by the House of Commons, by
reason of equality of voices or misdemeanour of any person whatsoever, then the
said County, City, Cinque Port or Borough shall not incur the penalties in this
law, so as an election de facto be made.

VI. And it is further enacted, that no Parliament henceforth to be
assembled shall be dissolved or prorogued within fifty days at least after the
time appointed for the meeting thereof, unless it be by assent of His Majesty,
his heirs or successors, and of both Houses in Parliament assembled; and that
neither the House of Peers nor the House of Commons shall be adjourned within
fifty days at least after the meeting thereof, unless it be by the free consent
of every the said Houses respectively.

VII. And be it further enacted and declared by authority of this present
Parliament, that the Peers to be assembled at any Parliament by virtue of this
Act, shall and may from time to time, at any time during such their assembly in
Parliament, choose and declare such person to be Speaker for the said Peers as
they shall think fit. And likewise that the said knights, citizens and
burgesses to be assembled at any Parliament by virtue of this Act, shall and
may from time to time, at any time during such their assembly in Parliament,
choose and declare one of themselves to be Speaker for the said knights,
citizens and burgesses of the House of Commons assembled in the said Parliament
as they shall think fit; which said Speakers, and every of them, as well for
the said Peers as for the said House of Commons respectively, shall, by virtue
of this Act, be perfect and complete Speakers for the said Houses respectively,
and shall have as full and large power, jurisdiction and privileges, to all
intents and purposes, as any Speaker or Speakers of either of the said Houses
respectively, heretofore have had or enjoyed.

VIII. And it is further enacted and declared, that all Parliaments
hereafter to be assembled by authority of this Act and every member thereof
shall have and enjoy all rights, privileges, jurisdictions and immunities, as
any Parliament summoned by writ under the Great Seal of England, or any member
thereof might or ought to have; and all and every the members that shall be
elected and chosen to serve in any Parliament hereafter to be assembled by
authority of this Act as aforesaid, shall assemble and meet in the Commons
House of Parliament, and shall enter into the same, and have voices in such
Parliament before and without the taking of the several oaths of supremacy and
allegiance, or either of them, any law or statute to the contrary thereof in
any wise notwithstanding.

IX. Provided always, that if the King's Majesty, his heirs or
successors, shall at any time during any Parliament hereafter to be assembled
by authority of this Act as aforesaid, award or direct any commission or
commissions unto any person or persons whatsoever, thereby giving power and
authority to him or them to take and receive the oath of supremacy and
allegiance, of all or any the members of the Commons House of Parliament, and
any the members of that House being duly required thereunto, shall refuse or
neglect to take and pronounce the same, that from thenceforth such person so
refusing or neglecting shall be deemed no member of that House, nor shall have
any voice therein, and shall suffer such pains and penalties as if he had
presumed to sit in the same House without election, return or authority.

X. And it is likewise provided and enacted, that this Statute shall be
publicly read yearly at every General Sessions of the Peace, to be held next
after the Epiphany, and every Assizes then next ensuing by the Clerk of the
Peace and Clerk of the Assizes for the time being respectively. And if they or
either of them shall neglect or fail to do the same accordingly, then such
party so neglecting or failing shall forfeit the sum of one hundred pounds.

XI. And it is lastly provided and enacted, that His Majesty's royal
assent to this Bill shall not thereby determine this present Session of
Parliament,[1] and that all statutes and Acts of Parliament which
are to have continuance unto the end of this present Session, shall be of full
force after His Majesty's assent, until this present Session be fully ended and
determined; and if this present Session shall determine by dissolution of this
present Parliament, then all the Acts and statutes aforesaid shall be continued
until the end of the first Session of the next Parliament.

[1] It was at that time the custom that the royal assent was
given to Bills at the end of the Session, and it wag consequently argued that
the assent put an end to the Session.